Battle of Kivinebb

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Battle of Kivinebb
Part of Russo-Swedish War (1554–57)
DateMarch 11, 1555
Location
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Sweden Russian Empire Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Jöns Månsson Ulfsparre Ivan Bibikov
Strength
560 men[1] 12,000 men (Swedish claim)[1]
Casualties and losses
light[2] 300–600 killed (Swedish claim)[2]

The Battle of Kivinebb was fought on March 11, 1555, between Finnish forces of Sweden commanded by Jöns Månsson Ulfsparre (Finnish name Juho Maununpoika) numbering 500 on one side, and on the other side a Russian army led by Ivan Grigoryevich Bibikov numbering up to 13,000 and consisting mostly of militiamen from Zemshchina.[citation needed] Despite being severely outnumbered, Swedish forces won the battle due to superior knowledge of the region and using skis for mobility.[1][2] The battle is briefly mentioned in the Lebedev Chronicle, which says that in 1555 Ivan Bibikov with a number of common men was sent to push Swedes to exchange some Russian citizens who were forcibly held in Sweden and to punish the Swedes for attacking the nearest Russian settlements, but was defeated.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Väänänen, Kalle: Vainotien vartijat; Etelä-Karjalan maanpuolustushistoriaa, Viipurin Suojeluskuntapiirin Piiriesikunta, Karjalan kirjapaino oy Viipuri 1939. pp. 10.
  2. ^ a b c Sauri, Seppo: Suomalaisten suuret taistelut. Keuruu: Otava, 2002. pp. 14.
  3. ^ Полное собрание русских летописей. Т. 29, М.: 1965, с. 240-241